A New Era of Governance
In a bold step toward digital governance, Albania has introduced its first AI-powered government minister. Named Diella, the virtual minister was presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama in parliament as part of a plan to modernize the Balkan nation and showcase its commitment to transparency.
During a three-minute speech delivered through large screens, Diella declared, “The Constitution speaks of institutions at the people’s service. It does not speak of chromosomes, of flesh or blood. It speaks of duties, accountability, transparency, and non-discriminatory service.”
Fighting Corruption With Technology
Diella’s primary role will be to oversee all public tenders, a sector historically plagued with corruption. By managing government contracts digitally, the Albanian government says it can ensure that tenders are one hundred percent corruption-free.
Originally launched in January as a virtual assistant to help citizens navigate government services, Diella has already processed more than one million digital requests on the e-Albania platform. The AI minister, created in partnership with Microsoft, is depicted as a woman in traditional Albanian dress and symbolizes both heritage and modernity.
Political Reactions and Criticism
While Prime Minister Rama hailed the AI minister as a groundbreaking innovation, the opposition in parliament strongly opposed the move. Lawmakers banged on tables in protest, claiming the initiative could be used to cover up corruption rather than eliminate it. The speaker cut the debate short after just 25 minutes, and the opposition boycotted the vote. Despite this, the government program passed with 82 votes in the 140-seat parliament.
Albania’s Road to the European Union
The introduction of Diella is part of a wider plan to highlight Albania’s technological innovations as it seeks to join the European Union by 2030. Prime Minister Rama emphasized that the AI figure will help the government operate faster, more efficiently, and with complete transparency.
In her closing statement, Diella said, “I am not here to replace people but to help them. True, I have no citizenship, but I have no personal ambition or interests either.”
With this bold experiment, Albania positions itself at the intersection of governance and technology, sending a strong message about its vision for the future.
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